spinnaker handling tips required

If you are looking for an introduction to spinnaker sailing on cats in general, rather than the I20 in particular, there is some good information on the Catamaran Sailing DVD available here - http://tillard.georges1.free.fr/


Hello, I find that the holding force on the spinakersheet is very high. my sheet runs from the spinaker through the ratched block on the sidestay and then trough a small block on the front beam to my crewmember. He is complaning over the amount of pulling force on the sheet. Does anyone have a suggestion on how to lower this force?

My sheets is attached fix at the spinaker and from there the sheet runs trough the ratchedblock and then trough the small block at the front beam. Someone else suggested a second ratchedblock on the beam and that sounds to me as a simple but maybe sufficient solution.
Otherwise I have to try your solution. Thanks for the advise!
Two ratchet blocks make it a bit easier, but is your crew having difficulties in trimming the spinnaker, or holding it once it is trimmed?
As you know, spinnaker work is pretty constant (easing and trimming) and has to be coordinated with course changes by the helm.
I have found that in certain cases where we are pointing too high in order to fly the hull downwind, it is very difficult to trim the spinnaker (most likely because it's already as flat as it can be). If you are aware of your sailing angle when the crew is complaining, it may indeed be pretty high.
Either that, or your crew is like me and complains too much! <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />
I found the Agard videos on YouTube very helpful. There are about 4 of them. Here's one. Just query YouTube for the others.
Agard 2

I believe that is in my job description!
Glad to see your showing at Steeple. Any recap of what you did right/wrong? Did you do the
slog of shame
at Anne's Beach? Pick up any nice lobster pots on day 2?
How'd your crew fare? Is he up for 5 days of that stuff? <img src="<>/smile.gif" alt="smile" title="smile" height="15" width="15" />


Haha if money was no issue I would get a new one right aaway, but as most of us, I sail with a budget. Don't you have this problem? No, without kidding, the spinaker is fine, not blown out, but 25 sqm. is a lot on a single line!
A second ratchetblock is worth trying, I have a spare one lying around.


Kite tips, at the windward mark start hoisting earlyier than you think, this applys more if your racing with a spreader mark, by doing this you have more kite out of the chute by the time you round the mark and then its easier to get the last bit up and get going which also avoids you being rolled by boats behind you.
Gybing wise try and float the kite round so its filled the whole way round.When your out triming the kite on the wire always make sure that the hand you have any wraps round is not the one you use to grab the handle (in my case i put the wraps around my back hand as downwind i use my backhand to get in.)
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